LLM International Commercial Law

dandadub

Hi all

I am looking to register for the above course in September in either UCD or Griffith.

The plan was to enrol and do it P/T while working F/T.

UCD seem to only have day classes while making GCD a better option as they are in the evenings. Does anyone have any experience from doing these courses and also how intense would it be P/T if i was working F/T?

Thanks

MarkAnthony

I hate to say it as a GCD undergrad but the reputation of a masters from UCD would be better. Nothing wrong with the GCD qualification though a couple of friends have an LLM from there. Teaching is excellent, facilities are good.

Pretty bloody intense though from what I've seen.

Grassey

I did it a few years back in gcd when working 8-5 FT. It was grand for the 2 semesters of lectures as it only worked out as 3 nights a week of classes 6 to 10 I think. Finding time to do thesis was more difficult I found over the summer.

Really enjoyed the course content and would do it again, has nothing to do with my current (non legal) job though.

j80ezgvc3p92xu

I'm currently doing the LLM and I have to say I have mixed feelings about it. The classes are a bit dull even though there was a big list you could pick from and I picked what seemed to be the most interesting topics. I enjoy working on the thesis because I generally like researching and working on my own projects. If I got to choose again, I really do not know if I would sink the 10 grand again, so many other things I could do with the money. However, if you are looking to work with the big 5 it would definitely be a plus, I was always asked about it at the interviews.

Manach

I'd have no opinion on the choice between the two schools. But I found myself Int'n law to be highly interesting at that level and my favourite module. But the application on career based on such was not of major import. Thus hopefully the OP will ascertain from the two choices which is of more long term relevance.

number13

Manach wrote: »

I'd have no opinion on the choice between the two schools. But I found myself Int'n law to be highly interesting at that level and my favourite module. But the application on career based on such was not of major import. Thus hopefully the OP will ascertain from the two choices which is of more long term relevance.

What sort of jobs could you get with doing this masters rather than the usual solicitor /barrister ? Or would it add anything to an existing law degree holder

Manach

A majority of the people were not going down the Sol/Barrister route. It was a mixture of International based students, with some diplomats and military. There were 2 Irish professionals who took the course to make up the module count (a bit like myself ). So Jobs-wise outside the normal legal careers I'd reckon it would be an excellent for the Foreign service or other branches of the Civil service dealing with overseas matters.

dandadub

Clare Broad Joint wrote: »

I'm currently doing the LLM and I have to say I have mixed feelings about it. The classes are a bit dull even though there was a big list you could pick from and I picked what seemed to be the most interesting topics. I enjoy working on the thesis because I generally like researching and working on my own projects. If I got to choose again, I really do not know if I would sink the 10 grand again, so many other things I could do with the money. However, if you are looking to work with the big 5 it would definitely be a plus, I was always asked about it at the interviews.

The whole reason I wanted to undertake this course was to put a legal qualification to my CV, commercial law is an area i would like to be involved in as a solicitor and would be of benefit to me when applying for a top commercial firm.

Would you agree that this is the way to go regardless if I go with GCD?

j80ezgvc3p92xu

I have no experience of GCD, their LLM programme could very well be top class but I do think an LLM from Trinity or UCD would look more impressive on your CV. It shows you are able to engage with law at (lets not kid ourselves) one of the best universities this country has to offer. However, you should go in with your eyes open. It is really just another year of same old with the exception that you have to churn out a thesis at the end. Is it worth close to ten grand? That is debatable, as I said earlier I doubt that I would do it again had I got the chance but it could very well have been the difference between getting the interview or my application ending up in the shredder. I know people whose career prospects improved dramatically after completing the LLM, but I also know those to whom it seemed not to have made a difference. I suppose this shows the importance of work experience and extra curriculars.

MarkAnthony

+1 on the above. GCD has it's niches but it's not UCD or TCD.

Absolutely no reason to discount it for the LLB especially as you can go on to do an LLM at TCD, which is what many of the acedemically inclined at GCD do.

pixieprincess

I completed the LLB in Gcd and found it to be a very good college. Good lectures, great services at the library and good course materials provided. No where is perfect but I was quite happy with it and I am starting my LLM next week in Gcd. While Trinity and Ucd have a good reputation I think Gcd also has this and it is improving every year. Gcd also allows you to study at night and work full time which is a big seller for me.

LutherBlissett

I'm curious as to the quality of the lecturers on the Griffith course - would they be any good? I have heard there is an emphasis on practitioner (and possibly younger) lecturers. Does this affect the quality of the LLM?

MarkAnthony

Again going to be blunt in reference to GCD. The quality of the lectures is outstanding. It has to be, they'll take anyone - jaysus they took me!

They went thought a bit of a rough patch IMHO - wasn't there some split with Independent? It went from Excellent to very good and is probably back up there at excellent again.

LLM is taught by the more academically inclined. GCD pilfer the occasional TCD lecturer and Langwallner is Ireland's foremost expert on IP, he told me himself - repeatedly. (I jest I like the man very much and to be fair he's good at what he does.)

The problem IMHO with a GCD LLM is not how good it actually is but how good it's perceived to be. That said they've done a lot to raise their profile over the years. The various SC judges, ex presidents and current Taoiseach that pitch up wouldn't be doing it unless there was some (at least domestic) reputation there or the bar was very good, which it isn't - it's ****.

Jasnah

I don't know anything about the quality of the course in and of itself, but if you want to work in corporate law itself, I'd choose the UCD masters. I remember looking at the intake selections for some of the large law firms and the vast majority were from TCD/UCD, or had gone elsewhere and then done a masters in TCD/UCD – I don't remember a single GCD person where I was working. I don't think it reflects on the quality of the course, but as someone mentioned above, perception plays a large part in things.

dandadub

Hey does anyone know where I might get condensed notes from the LLM?